Wild Sky is a collaboration between American Prairie Reserve and ranchers that are living and operating in key wildlife corridors and within neighboring communities in central Montana. Participating ranchers can commit to a menu of wildlife-friendly practices that have been identified as beneficial to conservation. Upon successful implementation of those practices, American Prairie Reserve makes direct cash payments to participating ranchers, which are made possible in part from APR donor support. By partnering with our ranching neighbors in this way, the borders of the Reserve are softened and become a buffer of tolerance and support for wildlife.
The program is mutually beneficial for both ranchers and American Prairie Reserve, and is an example of the tangible impact of donor support. Wild Sky rewards the good stewardship of ranchers, provides a benefit for welcoming wildlife (that otherwise could be a burden), and contributes to a landscape in which both people and wildlife can thrive.
Wildlife-friendly protocols: Wild Sky's ranching protocols cover a number of areas relating to wildlife conservation—from the conservation of native prairie, to the protection of prairie dogs, to the installation of wildlife-friendly fencing. Participating ranchers are audited annually to ensure that they adhere to voluntary protocols.
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